High-explosive shell



' lo. 6|2,495.A Patented Oct. I8, |898.

G. M HATHAWAY.

HIGH EXPLUSIVE SHELL.

(Application led July' 1 1, 189B" llsnewod Mar. 18, 1898.) (No Model.)

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(Appliuton lld July 11, 1896. Renewed Mar. 18, 1898.)

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WITNEESEE- UNTTnD STATES ATnNT Ormea.

GEORGE M. IIATHAVAY, OF NEV YORILYN. Y., ASSIGNOR TO M. O. ARNOT, OFELMIRA, NEI/V YORK.

HlG'H-EXPLOSIVE SHELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 612,495, dated October18, 1898. Application led July 11, 1896. Renewed March 18, 1898. SerialNo. 674,395. (No modell) To all whont t may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE M. HATHAWAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in High-ExplosiveShells;`

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in explosive projectilesfor ordnance; and it consists in providing a shell with a mixing-chamberhaving therein salts or other desired composition and locating therein aliquid-holding chamber composed of two slotted tubes, one fitting withinthe other, the inner one stationary or fixed to the shell and the otherpartially revoluble.

The invention further consists in arranging a detonator orpercussion-cap to kbe struck by a suitably-arranged anvil to explode anexplosive compound, one element of which is contained in theliquid-chamber and the other element or elements in the mixing-chamber;and the invention still further consists in so constructing the slottedtubes forming said liquid-holding chamber that when the shell is firedthe partially-revoluble tube will be caused to turn until its slotsregister with the slots of the fixed tube, thus permitting the liquidelement tointermingle with the element or elements contained in themixingchamber of the shell, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

My improved shell is particularly designed to be employed in connectionwith certain chemical ingredients which are inert, harmless, andinexplosive when separate, but which become highly explosive when mixed;and the invention has for its object to so construct the shell that theingredients forming the explosive compound will be kept separate duringthe charging and handling of the same and during the firing of the gun,but will be caused to become mixed and thoroughly intermingle during theflight or transit of the shell and be exploded by the impact or shock ofthe shell in striking an obj ect or by means of a suitable time-fuse.This object is attained by means of the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l represents a longitudinalsectional view of my improved shell and its interior mechanism; Fig. 2,a plan view of the liquidholding chamber in closed position; Fig. 8, asimilar view showing the said chamber in open position; Fig. 4, anenlarged transverse section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a similarview on line 5 5 of Fig. 3, and Fig. G an enlarged longitudinal sectionof the breech-plu g and the exploding device.

For convenience in describing the invention I will proceed to describethe same under the following-named heads-viz., first, construction ofshell; second, internal mechanism; third, detonator and device forexploding same 5 fourth, charging the shell, and, fifth, firing theshell.

In the drawings similar numerals of reference indicate similar partsthroughout the several views.

Construction of the sheZZ.-The numeral l indicates an oblong conoidalshell or projectile which is constructed of steel or other suitablematerial and is provided or formed with an internal chamber 2, which Ishall hereinafter refer to as a mixing-chamber. The breech of the shellis provided with a central internally-screW-threaded opening 3, which isadapted to be closed by a screwthreaded breech-plug 4, having a centralrecess 5 formed therein. The said recess is screw-threaded a shortdistance internally at its mouth, but having a plain bore or wall forthe remaining portion, the purpose of which will be hereinafter morefully explained. At the forward end of the mixing-chamber the shell isprovided with a circular recess 6, axially in line with the longitudinalaxis of the shell. This recess is screw-threaded for the reception of ascrew-threaded neck of one of the slotted tubes composing theliquid-holding chamber 7, as will be presently described.

Internal mechanisch-The numeral 8 indicates a tube which is provided atone end with a flanged solid cap 9, having a screwthreaded neck 10, andat the other end with a cap ll provided with a central screw-threadedillingaperture 12, closed by a screwthreaded plug 13. rPhe tube 8 issecurely fas- IOO tened in the chamber of the shell by screwing the neck10 into the screw-threaded recess 6 and held concentric with the innerwall thereof. Over this tube and concentric with it is fitted a tube14:, which is adapted to partially rotate in close contact with it, bothtubes tapering from their forward to their rear ends for the purposehereinafter explained. The iixed or stationary tube is slightly longerthan the partially-revoluble tube, and both are provided with a seriesof longitudinal slots 15 and 16, respectively, the series in each tubebeing separated by a central portion 17, said portion of the fixed tubebeing provided with an oblique slot 1S, into which projects the end of ascrew or pin 19, passing through the central portion of the outer orpartially-revoluble tube. The central portion of each tube is providedwith a perforation 2O for the reception of a pin 2l, of soft metal, tolock the tubes together in closed position and maintain them in suchposition against accidental displacement.

Dctonaor and devices for exploding the same--The numeral 22 indicates ametallic ring which is iitted snugly in the recess 5. Fitted within thisring isan anvil 23, formed at its forward end with a central firing pinor projection 24k. The anvil is held in normal position within the ringby means of a pin 25, of 'soft metal, passing through the ring and theanvil, as shown. Screwed into the screw-threaded portion of the recess 5is a detonator-holder 26, which consists of a fianged tube of soft metalopen at the flanged end and closed at the other. The opening at theilanged end is provided with a shouldered recess 27, which receives thehead of a percussion-cap 28, which extends well down into the metal andis protected from accidental explosion thereby." It will be observedthat the forward end of the ring 22 abuts against the rear of thedetonator-holder and that the rear of the anvil abuts against the rearof the recess 5, and as the ring and anvil are fixed together underordinary circumstances they cannot move longitudinally within the recess5 and the firing-pin of the anvil will be held safely away from the capof the detonator.

It will be seen that the tube of the detonator-holder extends into themass of salts at the rear of the shell, so as to insure the explosion ofthe charge when the cap is exploded. This tube protects the cap fromexploding by the sudden packing of the salts and liquids around it.

Charging the sheZL--The tapering slotted tubes are placed in closedposition, which is accomplished by turning the outer tube until thesolid portions thereof come directly over the slots in the inner tube oruntil the pin 19 reaches the extreme limit of one end of the slot 18. lnthis position the tubes are locked together by inserting the soft-metalpin 21 in the perforations 20 and the edges of the slots in the outertube well parafned. rlhe screwthreaded plug 13 is then removed and thechamber thus formed is filled with the liquid element of the explosivecompound and the plug replaced. The chamber is now inserted through theopening in the breech, the plug 4 having been first removed, and isfastened into position by screwing the neck 10 into the recess 6. Theshell is now ready to receive the other element or elements of thecompound, which is fed through the breech-opening and loosely packedaround the liquid'- holding chamber. The breech-plug, which has beenfitted with its detonating mechanism, is screwed into the breech-openingand thel shell is ready for storing, transportation, or to be iired froma gun.

Firing the shell- The instant the shell is fired the sudden and severeshock given it by the explosion of the gun-charge causesI aninstantaneous and rapid backward movement of the outertube, breaking orrupturing the soft-metal locking-pin, and being guided by the pin movingin the oblique slot said tube is caused to turn until said pin reachesthe limit of the slot, which when reached the slots of the inner orfixed tube will then register with the slots of the outer tube, and theliquid contents will be thus liberatedto and intermingle with the otherelement or elements of the compound, the mixing being assisted by therapid revolutions of the shell in its iiight. Y

During the ilight of the shell the anvil is held by the soft-metal pin;but the instant the shell strikes an obj ect the momentum imn parted tothe anvil duringtheY flight ofv the shell will cause the anvil tosuddenly start forward, shearing or breaking the pin and causing thefiring-pin to strike and explode the cap of the detonator. The explosionruptures the tube of the detonator and explodes the mixture of saltsandliquid in the chamber of the shell.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to4secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination,with a chambered shell or projectile, of a iixed tubesecured Within said projectile, and a partly-revoluble tube fitted uponthe iixed tube, the tubes being provided with registering longitudinalslots which are normally closed, but which are caused to register andopen by the firing of the shell, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

2. In a chambered shell or projectile, the

combination, of a fixedtube located therein, and a revoluble tube fittedon said xed tube, the tubes being provided with registering slots ateach side of the central portion thereof, and with mechanism at suchcentral portion, to give the revoluble tube a rotary movement when theshell is fired, the slots being closed when the tubes are in normalposition, the tubes constituting a receptacle for a liquid, forming. aportion of the explosive charge of the projectile, substantially asspecified.

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3. The combination, in a chambered shell *I 612,495 si 4 and slotted ateach side of the central portion zo or projectile, of the stationary andrevoluble and slotted tubes located therein, the stationary tube beingprovided With an oblique centrally-located slot, and the revoluble tubeWith a screw or pin entering said slot, to cause the revoluble tube torotate When it moves backward, and cause the slots to register,substautially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a chambered shell or projectile, the combination, of the ixed andrevoluble slotted tubes, located therein, of the locking-pin of softmetal, whereby the tubes are held normally in a closed position,substantially as specified.

5. Aliquid-receptacle for shells or projectiles consisting of two tubesone of which is secured in a fixed position Within the projectile, thetubes being fitted one upon another thereof, the central portion of onetube being provided with an oblique slot, into which eX- tends a screwor pin secured to the central portion of the other, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

6. A liquid-receptacle for shells or projectiles, consisting of tWotubes one of which is secured in a fixed position Within the projectile,the tubes being provided With a series of registering slots, at eachside of the cen-' tral portion thereof, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

GEORGE M. HATIIAVAY. Vtnesses:

J. R. NOTTINGHAM, THos. J. STALEY.

